…unless I want to scare people…

On Monday, I decided that I needed to try out the new bike. Everything was going well. I had done the route to work previously with my Giant hot pink mountain bike. But now, I was zooming—passing people easily. I coasted down Valencia, right on 14th, an awkward left on Folsom, then several blocks on the wide open bike lane on Folsom, the mini hill right after 3rd and a right on 2nd.

Right there at Harrison and 2nd, I braked and stopped. Once on the sidewalk, time to walk my bike! I was so excited that I made it so far!

So I tilted to my left and swung my right leg…but it wasn’t high enough. I caught the bar—not used to the standard frame (unlike the swing-through frame on my mountain bike). I promptly lost balance and fell awkwardly in a heap with my backpack with the bike on top of me.

I stood up and felt my knee, elbow and foot smarting. Nonetheless, I walked ahead with my head up high (although cursing inside). Because like I said, it’s only embarrassing if you believe it’s embarrassing.

BUT.

There were drivers in the cars at 2nd and Harrison waiting for the light to turn green. I am sure that they saw me. Because the fact is, if I was a driver there, I would have started laughing hysterically seeing a biker have a self-inflicted fall. In the safety of my car.

I hope that I made someone’s day.